In the Sampasaadaniiyasutta of the Diigha Nikaaya, for instance, Saariputta is professed to have said: "In the presence of the Exalted One have I heard him say and from him have received, that... in times gone by and in future times there have been, and will be other Supreme Buddhas equal to himself [i.e., Gotama] in the matter of Enlightenment." Thus, no longer is the term "bodhisattva" used solely in conjunction with Gotama, with other past buddhas, and with Maitreya; the bodhisattva-yaana is regarded as a possible, albeit difficult, path open to anyone who desires buddhahood.

The Buddha wanted all those he taught to realise nibbana for themselves in the here and now. He wanted us to get out of samsara now, not practice to spend more time in it, I dont believe that he taught that way.

clw_uk wrote:The Buddha wanted all those he taught to realise nibbana for themselves in the here and now. He wanted us to get out of samsara now, not practice to spend more time in it, I dont believe that he taught that way.